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(WASHINGTON) President Joe Biden spoke to the nation in his first speech to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday — just one day shy of his 100th day as president — where he discussed the challenges the nation faced before he was sworn in as well as the early breakthroughs of his young administration.
“A hundred days since I took the oath of office — lifted my hand off our family Bible — and inherited a nation in crisis,” Biden said. “The worst pandemic in a century. The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War.”
“Now — after just 100 days — I can report to the nation: America is on the move again,” he added. “Turning peril into possibility. Crisis into opportunity. Setback into strength.”
In addition to touting his administration’s public health response, Biden also explained the economic benefits his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan has made.
“What else have we done these first 100 days,” he said. “We kept our commitment and we are sending $1,400 rescue checks to 85% of all American households.”
The president, who recently received a 53% job approval rating in an NBC News poll, also explained to the American people what’s next for his agenda.
Biden touted his ambitious $2.25 trillion infrastructure and jobs plan, or the American Jobs Plan, calling it the “blue-collar blueprint to build America.”
“Independent experts estimate the American Jobs Plan will add millions of jobs and trillions of dollars in economic growth for years to come,” the president said. “These are good-paying jobs that can’t be outsourced. Nearly 90% of the infrastructure jobs created in the American Jobs Plan do not require a college degree. 75% do not require an associate’s degree.”
Biden also called for Congress to pass efforts to help the middle class, focusing on unions and the minimum wage.
“Let’s raise the minimum wage to $15,” he said. “No one should work 40 hours a week and still live below the poverty line.”
The ongoing pandemic and security threat in the aftermath of the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot has arguably affected the typical pomp and circumstance of the first-year presidential tradition.
Only a limited number of people were invited to the address through Congressional leadership, and no House members or senators were able allowed to bring guests, according to The Associated Press.
NBC News reports around 200 people were inside the House Chamber, rather than the typical 1,600. Those present also had to present proof of vaccinations or a negative Covid-19 test.
National Guard members, left in place since the riot, remained and additional security measures like checkpoints, metal detectors and fencing protecting Capitol Hill were other visible safeguards present. The streets around the Capitol were shut down two hours before the “national special security event” and lawmakers had to go through these enforced screenings.
Biden also unveiled his $1.8 trillion health care, child care and education plan called the American Families Plan. This measure is the second part of his jobs and infrastructure plan.
If passed, this legislation will offer four years of free education, with two for preschool education before kindergarten and another two years of community college. Paid family leave, tax credit extensions, child care support and more are also included in the provision.
“The research shows that when a young child goes to school — not day care — they are far more likely to graduate from high school and go on to college,” he added.
Biden also said his administration will push to lower insurance plan deductibles and prescription drug prices.
“In fact, we pay the highest prescription drug prices in the world right here in America – nearly three times as much as other countries,” the president said. “We can change that. Let’s do what we’ve always talked about.”
Biden said he will not raise taxes on households making less than $400,000 to pay for his new plan.
“It’s time for corporate America and the wealthiest 1% of Americans to pay their fair share,” he added.
Biden also pushed back against the growing threat of China, North Korea, Iran and Russia. He also spoke of the need to end the war in Afghanistan after 20 years.
“We delivered justice to Osama Bin Laden and we degraded the terrorist threat of al Qaeda in Afghanistan,” Biden explained. “After 20 years of American valor and sacrifice, it’s time to bring our troops home.”
In addition, Biden also stressed the need to pass police reform in the wake of the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the murder George Floyd.
“To rebuild trust between law enforcement and the people they serve,” he said. “To root out systemic racism in our criminal justice system. And to enact police reform in George Floyd’s name that passed the House already.”
From LGBTQ rights to immigration reform and voting rights to gun control, Biden spoke of the crucial domestic needs he hopes Congress will address.
“I will do everything in my power to protect the American people from this epidemic of gun violence,” he stressed. “But it’s time for Congress to act as well.”
As Biden neared the end of his speech, he touched on the violence that occurred in the very building he spoke from.
“Lives were put at risk,” he added. “Lives were lost. Extraordinary courage was summoned. The insurrection was an existential crisis — a test of whether our democracy could survive. It did.”
Biden emphasized the need to prove American democracy works and to implement progress.
“We have to prove democracy still works,” he said. “That our government still works — and can deliver for the people.”
Republican Sen. Tim Scott gave the Republican response to Biden’s speech shortly after Biden finished and criticized his proposals and Democratic priorities.